Hivox SnoreStopper

Looking for a solution to stop the rattle-your-windows-snorer sleeping next to you? Do you need a Father’s Day gift that also rewards your Mom? Then, you might want to take a look at Hivox’ SnoreStopper. This innovative device is worn like a watch. When you start to snore, it produces a 5-second electronic impulse on your wrist, resulting in the snorer to reposition and stop snoring. The distributor claims that within 3 weeks, the SnoreStopper naturally coaches your body to snore less. To test this claim, Hivox graciously sent me a sample to review.

When unboxing the device, it is housed in a baby blue, hard plastic case. With the box measuring at 8″ x 5″ x 2″, it seems too large for a typical nightstand. I opted to just not use the hard case.

After opening the box, I looked at the device and thought it would weigh a few pounds. Surprisingly, it only weighs 1.3 ounces, the face measures to approximately 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ x 1/2″, and the wristband adjust up to 22 cm.

To start using the SnoreStopper, there were several steps I had to take. The first was to cleanse the back of the device and my wrist with an alcohol cloth. I then carefully attached the adhesive electrode pads onto the black rubber pads of the SnoreStopper. I emphasize carefully, since these are super sticky and can easily roll or get stuck incorrectly on the device.

To fully adhere to the device, the adhesive needs to remain affixed for 15 minutes before placing the device on your wrist. After the allotted time, I removed the plastic backing and pressed the device firmly on my skin. I then had to hook the band onto the device.

From there, I tightened the Velcro band and was ready to start testing.

There are five intensity levels for the SnoreStopper, which are dialed on the bottom of the device. I started out at the lowest setting of 1 and began testing. Now, the impulse does not immediately go off when noises are made. It requires a set of three similar sounds to cause the impulse. To ensure the wristband has a good connection, there is a green/red light indicating the proper contact. When the green light is lit, you can press the test button three times. It immediately sends an electronic wave along the area exposed to the device.

In my case, I also felt a tingling sensation all the way up my arm and across my chest. I was initially concerned I was having a heart attack, so I immediately asked my husband to do a courtesy check. He placed the SnoreStopper on and did not feel the same sensation. I re-tried it and still found the same pulse-pounding sensation, plus the tingling up my arm. Not to give up, I solicited my neighbor to try it. I did not tell her what it was doing to me (I know, I’m sweet), yet she described the same feelings.

I contacted the distributor and they had not heard of anything like this. They thought maybe it was due to women wearing the device, since our skin is not as thick as men’s are. (Hey, should I have been offended? ?). I did not want to give up and just thought maybe I was doing something that was causing this. Through a couple days of testing, I determined it was possibly one of two things. It was either due to the lotion I put on in the morning or that I was standing up with the device. When I did not moisturize my arms that morning, I did not notice the tingling sensation. When I got into bed and tested the device, the weird sensation was not there. Yeah, now that I am not having a heart attack, I can try it!

That evening, I snuggled into bed while my hubby stayed up reading. He generously sacrificed sleep to see what happens when I start snoring. (Thank you, honey!) To our surprise, I began snoring, got lightly zapped, and then rolled over in bed. What is really cool is that I was not even disturbed or woke up…nor was Ronnie for that matter! He did not hear the paint-chipping snoring.

A couple of hours into my sleep, I did lose the watch. I toss and turn a lot in bed, due to back problems. This caused the watch to get hung up on my pillow and detach. That may not normally be a big deal, except that the wristband is elastic and acted like a sling shot when it unhooked. Ouch!

Something to note is that the SnoreStopper is not for someone with Sleep Apnea or heart conditions. It also cannot be used in loud environments or you will feel the impulse. For example, I left the TV on while sleeping. When the dinosaur roars in the movie “Night at the Museum,” I got zapped, yet I was not snoring. I also fell asleep, while the kids were playing near me. Two different things happened. The first was my son came over and kept pressing the shiny, silver test button. He loved that feature, since it made the device vibrate. The second was when he would start crying, he caused the electronic impulse to emit. Thanks, son!

Another observation was when the device was tucked under my blanket, my pillow, or close to my body (like the fetal position). This caused the sensor to not pick up the snoring, so it did not go off. In cases like that, I still have my trusty sidekick to give me a nudge. Because of this, I deduced it is more suited for back sleepers than side or stomach sleepers.

Overall, I think this device is a neat concept, since it uses biofeedback to naturally teach a person to stop snoring. It will keep zapping the sleeper to readjust his/her sleeping position, until they stop snoring. This in turns gives your partner and you a great night’s sleep. It might be worth a try if snoring is impacting your rest.

If you snore, you may possibly want to get checked for sleep apnea. Then you will really have anew gadget if you want. I know of no dr. that would condone this device. As it defeats the purpose of going to bed…sleep! If you have apnea, it can cause high blood pressure and a alot of other problems. You may want to talk to a sleep dr. (usually a neurologists) and get a Polysonography run on you….essentially a study where they wire you up and check your legs, feet, EKG and more and this includes your breathing and whether you snore or not.

Don’t try devices like this. The only way to make sure it’s just snoring is to get checked. I am glad I did. During my first study, I stopped breathing 11 times an hour and my oxygen level dropped to 86%. They want you to be no worse then 90 percent for O2 levels. Scary when you think about it.

I started CPAP therapy a couple weeks ago and it MUST be working because we had a power outage lastnight and I could not use the machine and I have felt like crap all day today.

Nervebreaker…great point! I never thought about that, since my husband doesn’t snore. But, yeah, you’re right. That would happen if you were wearing the device, but your wife started snoring. That’s actually kind of funny thinking about it.

Gorkon…very interesting perspective. I went to a sleep clinic 7 years ago, only to determine I do not have Sleep Apnea. I just snore because of the way I sleep. I’m with you, though, if you have a serious condition, you should check it out B4 buying devices.

You know, my dad did the sleep test and he was like you. He stopped breathing well over 10 times. They told him he broke the record for that clinic. He started CPAP and it was a success…but, he won’t keep using it!

Don’t try devices like this. The only way to make sure it’s just snoring is to get checked. I am glad I did. During my first study, I stopped breathing 11 times an hour and my oxygen level dropped to 86%. They want you to be no worse then 90 percent for O2 levels. Scary when you think about it.

…

Get checked. Don’t go for these kinds of gadgets.

I am also a sleep apnea sufferer, only I stopped breathing over 70 times per hour in my sleep test.

Devices like this could be, to put it mildly, VERY dangerous. They may mask a more serious problem and might even cause more problems. People with sleep apnea have enough problems sleeping–this will just exacerbate the situation.

As Gorkon said, SEE YOUR DOCTOR if you snore. Period. End of discussion.

It is great to see a colonel contributing to the site. Even better, from the Air Force. Go Falcons!

Thank you for your input and you’re right…get an opinion from a doctor. What you see in my review (I tested and wrote about the SnoreStopper) is just that, my experience with the device. That’s definitely not the gospel.

Ah, that eyesight thing. Funny how things have changed. When my husband and I were vying for slots, it was 20/20 or nothing else. Now people with corrected vision can be pilots. What does that say about the standards?

Your degrees are all from MIT. Whew, that is absolutely impressive! I am a Falcons fan by marriage, as well as from serving on active duty. My husband is the brilliant one in the family and went to the AF Academy. As for me, I went to Louisiana Tech. You haven’t heard of it? I don’t know why! :unsure: LOL Why it is home of the Lady Techsters, Carl Marlone, and Terry Bradshaw.

Take care and it was great chatting! And, thanks for keeping us/me on our toes at the-gadgeteer. I need that, since I seem to lose more brain cells with the birth of a new addition to the family. :wow:

Snoring is what causes?
Cause snoring many causes, have central and peripheral (obstructive), mixed.
The related with brain surgery often, peripheral often and nose, throat, tongue, the soft palate, etc, mixed word refers to two kind of situations.
If you are not very good effort, treatment, patients with serious, want to wear, peripheral, according to the results of the inspection line operation.
Obstructie sleep apnea syndrome generally refers to the adults in night’s sleep 7 hours and hours, at least 30 times, each time when sleep apnea episodes, nose, mouth and air circulation at least 10 SEC to stop, or apnea index (per hour of sleep apnea is more than 5 times the average. Clinically and central sleep apnea and mixed sleep apnea, these two kinds of circumstances, all more or less of a relationship with the brain.

What’s Julie working on?

I don't normally wear a watch, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the look and features of the current crop of smartwatches that are on the market like the TicWatch Pro which has two different displays that give it extra battery life beyond a typical smartwatch. Stay tuned for my review coming soon. Please follow The Gadgeteer or register for our newsletter so you won't miss my review. (8/13)